This past Friday, two colleagues and I decided to go on a weight loss journey.  No, we did not say it this way – we said that we are going to start a diet. I mentioned this to another friend who said that diet is not the word to use.  She mentioned that I should use “lifestyle change” instead of diet.  I agreed.  Right away, the use of “lifestyle change” seemed more inviting, less forced, more welcoming.

Today, Monday, November 3, 2014 I am starting my journey back to love through weight loss.  I am inviting you to join me on this journey, if this is where you are in your life, and that is what you need to do, what you feel called to do.  You are welcome here.

Before I embark on this journey, I needed to think about certain things.  I also needed to face the truth about my beliefs or my thoughts regarding weight loss.  You see, this is not the first time I started this weight loss journey.  I lost weight many times, and after a while, gained it all back.  The questions that came up were: Why this pattern?  What made me jeopardize everything I worked so hard to accomplish, and go back to the person carrying a lot of weight?  What got me so afraid?  What is it that I did not look into, and I needed to look into now?  Is there more work that I need to do within my self in regards to losing weight?  What is my deepest fear?  What am I hiding?

I also needed to look at the reasons why I was embarking on this journey, once again.  The questions I explored, and continue to explore are:  What is my deepest why? What am I hoping to accomplish?  What are the results that I am expecting?  Do I have a picture of what I want to look like?

First, I had to get down and dirty so to speak because it showed me what kept me prisoner for so long.  This is not a pleasant exercise but, a very necessary one.  I want you to write down (with a pencil) the beliefs that have kept you where you are, and I want you to write down (with a red pen)  the replacing beliefs that will help you move forward.

Second, I needed to also explore the benefits that I will receive when I reach my goal.  It is kind of like when you go on vacation or you are researching a resort or a place that you want to go to.  I bet you go on the net or you go to a travel agent, you research the place, you find out what others say about that place, you bring some brochures home so I can do more research.  You are in a dream state, you visualize through the brochures what this place looks like.  Everything seems to be illuminated, brighter, more beautiful.  I bet you can see yourself already there, holding the drinks that you are going to drink, doing the activities that you are planning to do, listening to the music that you will hear, feeling the sun on your skin, relaxing, enjoying, living.   Aaahhh!

I started to visualize myself at my intended weight goal, and I started to smile. I saw the clothes I am wearing, the make up, the nail polish, the shoes, etc.  I saw the way I move, full of vitality, and life, and joy, just bouncing.  I saw the way that I play volleyball (volleyball is my game), I am just floating, and moving rapidly.  I am full of energy.  I saw my friends, my interactions with them.  I saw myself in the midst of everything.

You see, I CAN visualize but, if visualizing is hard to do for you, then look through magazines and pick pictures that you like in regards to what you want to look like.  If you can visualize, I want you to see yourself at the weight that you want to achieve.  I want you to see the clothes that you are wearing at your weight goal, I want you to see the activities, the relationships, the person that you are at your intended goal.  See! Dream! Visualize! Visualize! Visualize!

I am embarking on a journey, and before I started this journey, I needed to be prepared mentally, physically, psychologically and spiritually.  What are the exercises that I am committing to do every day in order for me to succeed on this journey?

Today is Day 1.  Here is my plan:

Morning:  I start with a prayer, then visualization, then exercise.  Then, breakfast. (As I am writing this post, I have already done all that).

Mid-day:  Visualization, Intentional walking. Thank you prayer.  Then lunch.

Evening: I journal. I visualize. I end with a prayer. All within 30 minutes.

I also have an emergency kit that I will bring with me:

Snacks that I prepared so that I don’t get tempted to buy foods filled with sugar.

Inspirational notes to keep my mind fixed on what is right.

Weights (2 pounds), stretching bands, and skipping rope.

I invite you to join me on this journey.  I sincerely believe that life is BIG.  I also believe that we have to play our part in it.  Your experience will change when you have the courage to ask for it, and take the first step.

Today is my first step.  My prayer is:

“Thank you Holy Spirit for being with me on my journey to weight loss.  May I stay open to your voice and your direction.  I pray that I sense you even stronger when I am tempted.  May your peace, your strength, your love be so greatly manifested in me and, through me.  May the results be visible in a short period of time.  In your name, I pray!  Amen!!!”

I hope to hear from you.  Be blessed my loved ones!